The movement’s director of development Rifqi Faisal said that the poor physical condition of schools has long been a pressing issue.

“However, it is a surprise that attention on the issue has only now surfaced,” he said, referring to the ministry’s recent revelation that 1,311 schools in the country were dilapidated.

“The dilapidated state of schools affects students and makes them less willing to take part in lessons,” he said.

He said funding was not an issue as a considerable amount of money is allocated to education. Instead, the problem was the improper use of funds.

He also pointed to the ministry’s lack of urgency in managing schools during the pandemic, with no clear plan as to how education would be delivered to students during lockdowns.

This inaction, he said, left teachers to devise their own plans to conduct classes.

With the education ministry’s first 100-day report under the current administration coming up, Rifqi called for a long-term plan to not only maintain, repair, and upkeep schools, but also drive the digitalisation of the education system.

He added that it was important to empower students.

“Constitutional reforms are needed to empower students to think for themselves so they can bring meaningful changes to society.”